Is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka and is world famous for its well preserved ruins of the Great Sri Lankan Civilization. The Civilization which was built upon this city was one of the greatest civilizations of Asia and in the world. Anuradhapura, considered the most sacred town of Sri Lanka, can be termed the birthplace of Sinhala civilisation.

Anuradhapura served as the capital of Sri Lanka continuously from the 5th century BC to AD 1017. When many parts of the world were coming out of the stone age, Anuradhapura had already become an advanced civilisation. Traders of the city traded all round the world, people had sophisticated systems of man-made lakes and canals and structure of the town was well-planned. Renowned monk travellers Fa Hien and Buddha Ghosha of the 5th century have also mentioned Anuradhpura in their relics.

The city now a UNESCO heritage site, was also a wealthy city which created a unique culture and a great civilization. Today this ancient city of Sri Lanka, which is sacred to the Buddhist world, which its surrounding monasteries covers an area of over sixteen square miles ( 40 km²) and is one of the world's major archaeological sites.

Is the second medieval capital of Sri Lanka after Anuradhapura was devastated and is the best preserved town of the country. Polonnaruwa was established as the capital of Sri Lanka in 11th century AD replacing Anuradhapura. Continuous invasions from South India had forced the kings of Sri Lanka to do so. Polonnaruwa served as the capital of Sri Lanka from 11 AD to 13 AD. Prominent monarchs of this period are King Vijayabahu I, King Maha Parakramabau I and King Nissankamalla. The ancient city of Polonnaruwa has been declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO.

It possesses ancient dagobas, nice parks, moonstones, colossal structures and elegant statues. Polonnaruwa of today is among the best planned archaeological sites of the country and today the ancient city of Polonnaruwa remains one of the best planned Archeological relic sites in the country, standing testimony to the discipline and greatness of the Kingdom's first rulers.

Sigiriya that has spectacular importance in Sri Lanka with the Sigiriya Rock known as the Lion's Rock, was basically established in 477AD as a fortress and palace on the Sigiriya Rock. However, in the 16th and 17th centuries the place served as a monastic refuge. Sigiriya preserves the architectural tradition of the country, An ancient palace complex on the summit of Sigiriya Rock, erected during the reign of King Kasyapa, has been declared by UNESCO a world heritage site. The Lion staircase leading to the palace garden on the summit was the most important part of the Rock. The covered staircase was made of bricks and timber. However now only two massive paws and brick masonry remains. The Paintings of bare-breasted women were done over 1500 years ago.

The town is famous for its Rock juts out 200 metres from the land surrounding, Gardens and Sanctuary. Sigiriya gardens are the amalgamation of symmetrical and asymmetrical elements. Detailed planning has been done for laying these gardens. One can pass a wonderful day in the sanctuary of Sigiriya. Many experienced tourists call Sigiriya the most favourable place in Sri Lanka to visit.

Sigiriya Wildlife Sanctuary encircles the renowned Sigiriya rock. It is close to the Minneriya National park. Vegetation here is mainly dry evergreen forest, shrub forests, and dry deciduous forest. Many elephant herds live in this wildlife sanctuary Sambar, eagle and falcon are other common creatures found in the sanctuary

Dambulla is best known for its wonderful cave temple complex dating back to 2nd century BC. Even before the making of the complex it was well established as one of the largest monasteries in Sri Lanka. Credit of converting the caves into a temple in the 1st century BC goes to King Valagambahu. The site was added to by several kings later. In the course of several centuries, the caves became a major religious centre. Preserved diligently by Sri Lanka, Dambulla caves have been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The cave complex is a conglomeration of five caves holding magnificent statues and elegant scriptures.

Dambulla is best known for its wonderful cave temple complex dating back to 2nd century BC. Even before the making of the complex it was well established as one of the largest monasteries in Sri Lanka. Credit of converting the caves into a temple in the 1st century BC goes to King Valagambahu. The site was added to by several kings later. In the course of several centuries, the caves became a major religious centre. Preserved diligently by Sri Lanka, Dambulla caves have been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The cave complex is a conglomeration of five caves holding magnificent statues and elegant scriptures.

Best preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka has highlighted Dambulla on the world tourist map. The rock inside which the temples are carved out towers 160m over the neighboring plains. The complex holds more than 80 documented caves. This is an impressive complex of 5 cave image houses containing more than 150 Buddha and other idols. Elegantly painted walls and ceilings add to impact of the place. The cave complex has the total of 153 Buddha idols, 3 statues of Sri Lankan monarchs and 4 idols of deities. The five caves have been built at the base of a 150 m high rock. The largest cave is 23m from its entrance to back and at the highest point it is 7m tall.

Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka. Kandy stayed independent until the early 19th century. In the Second Kandyan War, the British launched an invasion that met no resistance and reached the city on February 10, 1815. On March 2, 1815 when Kandy the last capital of Sri Lanka taken over by British then the last king of the kingdom Sri Vikrama Rajasinha was captured and taken as a royal prisoner by the British.

Kandy, a major tourist destination in the country, is also called the cultural capital of Sri Lanka. The town has eminent tourist attractions like the Temple of Tooth and the Old Royal Palace- is the home of The Temple of the Tooth Relic one of the most venerable places for the Buddhist community of Sri Lanka and all around the world. It was declared a world heritage by the UNESCO in 1988. Kandy is a nice transit point to tour cultural north or hilly south.

Yala National Park - situated in the southeast region of the country, is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka. The park covers 979 square kilometres (378 sq mi) and consists of five blocks, two of which are now open to the public; and also adjoining parks. The blocks have individual names also, like Ruhuna National Park for the (best known) block 1 and Kumana National Park or 'Yala East' for the adjoining area. Yala was designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900, and, along with Wilpattu it was one of the first two national parks in Sri Lanka. The park is best known for its variety of wild animals. It is important for the conservation of Sri Lankan Elephants and aquatic birds.

Bundala Nature Reserve - one of the most Important Bird Areas in Sri Lanka, situated near Tissamaharama on the south coast, is an important wetland sanctuary combines 20km of beach, lagoon and scrub sheltering about 150 species of birds. It is a popular spot for birds that have flapped their way down from Siberia to avoid the winter and 2000 great flamingos to which it is the winter home. From October to January, 4 species of marine turtle lay their eggs on the coast.

Udawalawe National Park - lies on the boundary of Sri Lanka's wet dry zones and was created to provide a sanctuary for wild animals as well as to protect the catchment of the reservoir. The reserve covers 30,821 hectares (119.00 sq mi) of land area. It is an important habitat for water birds and Sri Lankan Elephants which are relatively easy to see in its open habitats with a herd of about 20 -50.

Wilpattu National Park - (Willu-pattu; Land of Lakes) is located in the Northwest coast lowland dry zone of Sri Lanka. The unique feature of this park is the existence of "Willus" (Natural lakes). The park is 131, 693 hectares and ranges from 0 to 152 meters above sea level. Nearly sixty lakes (Willu) and tanks are found spread throughout Wilpattu, this park is among the top national parks world renowned for its Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) population. The Leopard population in Wilpattu is still not yet known.

Minneriya National Park - is situated in dry zone in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. The park is a dry season feeding ground for the elephant population dwelling in forests of Matale, Polonnaruwa, and Trincomalee districts. Large numbers of Sri Lankan elephants are attracted to grass fields on the edges of the reservoir during the dry season. The Minneriya tank contributes to sustain a large herd of elephants numbering around 150-200. The Minneriya reservoir is an important habitat for large water birds and a dormitory for many resident as well as migrant bird species.

Kaudulla National Park - Situated in dry zone in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka, was designated a national park on April 1, 2002 becoming the 15th such area on the island. Kaudulla was one of the 16 irrigation tanks built by King Mahasen and now attracts and supports a variety of plant and animal life, including large mammals, fish and reptiles. Many plant and grass species grow well during the rainy season whilst an abundance of food and water, even in the dry period, attracts a large number of herbivorous mammals to the park. In the drought period around the month of September Sri Lankan Elephants move to the Minneriya tank in search of more water and food. The Kaudulla is probably the only national park in Sri Lanka to have albino Axis Deer.

Wasgamuwa National Park - is a natural park in Sri Lanka, originally designated as a nature reserve in 1938, and then in the early 1970's the area was regarded as a strict nature reserve. Wasgamuwa is one of the protected areas that is home to 23 species of mammals and is inhabited by a herd of 150 Sri Lankan Elephants. Marsh elephant (Elephas maximus vil-aliya) roams in the Mahaweli river area. It is also one of the Important Bird Areas in Sri Lanka. Number of bird species recorded from the park is 143 including 8 endemic species.

July-September is the dry season. The forests of Wasgamuwa represent Sri Lanka dry-zone evergreen forests and the park consists of primary, secondary, riverine forests, grasslands and exhibits one of the highest biodiversity among the protected areas in Sri Lanka. More than 150 floral species have recorded from the park. Reservoirs and riverine forests support large number of fauna species. Some 1,700 years old tamarind tree, "Oru Bendi Siyambalawa" (Sinhala for Canoes-moored-Tamarind) was situated in the park.

Gal Oya National Park - is 260 sq km of scrub and open countryside around an artificial reservoir. Vegetation in the park comprises both evergreen jungles and grasslands. The reservoir has been named Senanayake Samudra (Senanayake Sea), after first post-independence prime minister of Sri Lanka. About 30 species of beasts are found here including leopard, sloth bear, elephant, wild boar, water buffalo, various species of deer, common langur and endemic toque macaque. About 150 species of birds also reside in this park. June through September, the dry season is the best time for viewing Elephant, Deer, Macaques mainly with many birds.

Lahugala National Park - situated 14km west of Pottuvil on the east coast, has been declared a national park with the aim of providing a safe corridor to the elephants moving between Yala and Gal Oya national parks. Particularly in the dry season the tiny park has number of elephants who come there attracted by the abundance of reservoirs and grazing ground. This small park is home to the Ceylon blue magpie and the Red-faced malkoha and a host of water birds, is also good for good bird watching.

Horton Plains National Park - Located on the southern plateau of the central highlands of Sri Lanka, is a protected area and is covered by montane grassland and cloud forest. This plateau at an altitude of 2,100–2,300 metres (6,900–7,500 ft) is rich in biodiversity and many species found here are endemic to the region. This region was designated a national park in 1988. The plains' vegetation is grasslands interspersed with montane forest, and includes many endemic woody plants.The mean annual temperature is 13 °C (55 °F) but the temperature varies considerably during the course of a day, reaching as high as 27 °C (81 °F) during the day time, and dipping as low as 5 °C (41 °F) at night. Although some rain falls throughout the year, a dry season occurs from January-March. The ground frost is common in February. Mist can persist in the most of the day during the wet season. Many pools and waterfalls can be seen in the park and Horton Plains is considered the most important watershed in Sri Lanka.
The vertebrate fauna of the region includes 24 species of mammals, 87 species of birds, nine species of reptiles and eight species of amphibians. The Sri Lankan Elephant disappeared from the region in the 1940s at the latest. At present, the largest and the most commonly seen mammal is the Sri Lankan Sambar Deer in large herds and the park is also an Important Bird Area with many species not only endemic to Sri Lanka but restricted to the Horton Plains. The endemic freshwater shrimp Caridina singhalensis is found only in streams that have a temperature of less than 15 degrees C and is now restricted to only a stretch of 10 km of one stream.

Sinharaja Forest Reserve - is a national park and a biodiversity hotspot in Sri Lanka with international significance. The hilly virgin rainforest, part of the Sri Lanka lowland rain forests ecoregion, was saved from the worst of commercial logging by its inaccessibility. The forest was designated as a World Biosphere Reserve in 1978 and a World Heritage Site in 1988.
The reserve is only 21 km (13 mi) from east to west, and a maximum of 7 km (4.3 mi) from north to south, but it is a treasure trove of endemic species, including trees, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Because of the dense vegetation, wildlife is not as easily seen as at dry-zone national parks such as Yala. There are about 3 elephants and the 15 or so leopards are rarely seen.
The commonest larger mammal is the endemic Purple-faced Langur and rusty spotted cats, deer, squirrels, porcupines, pangolins, 45 species of reptiles, 147 species of birds and many stunning butterflies. The drier months of August-September and January-April make best viewing but you will still need your waterproofs and cover up your ankles and skin to avoid leeches.
The Forest reserve is an Important Bird Area and of Sri Lanka's 26 endemic birds, the 20 rainforest species all occur here, including the elusive Red-faced Malkoha, Green-billed Coucal and Sri Lanka Blue Magpie. Reptiles include the endemic Green pit viper and Hump-nosed vipers, and there are a large variety of amphibians, especially tree frogs. Invertebrates include the endemic Common Birdwing butterfly and the inevitable leeches.

Sri Lanka offers over 1,000 kilometers of palm fringed sandy beaches encircle the Island. Beyond the stretch of calm indigo-blue sea, a line of breaking waves marks the coral reef where the recreational divers discover vividly coloured tropical fish and living corals. With its year –round Summer and two different weather systems, there is always a beach with sunshine hence Sri Lanka is never out of season for beach holiday with a choice of calm seas or steady surf depending on what you feel like. There is a beach for all tastes, budgets and seasons in the lovely Island of Sri Lanka.

The beach resorts in the West Coast,outh S Coast and the East Coast are the most popular with travellers who enjoy taking a dip in the warm waters and relaxing on the sandy beach or indulging in water-based sport activities such as Scuba Diving, Snorekelling, Surfing, Jet scooter , Fun Rides, Canoeing, Kayaking and so on.

In the South Coast area, you can enhance your fun with the nightlife centers, take wine in any of the bar and can disco the whole night before you sleep and is also known for its Ayurvedic centres where you would have to stay for at least two weeks for experiencing the effects of Ayurveda and sessions of Yoga. Enjoy rustic way of life in coastal hamlets with the refreshing feeling that pretty bays would give you.

The shopping experience in Sri Lanka is truly unique as Sri Lanka offers an interesting and existing array of items, some of which are amazing Handicrafts, exquisite Precious Stones & Jewels, Readymade Garments, Batiks, Tea and aromatic Spices and Handlooms fabric materials, Lace and lacquerware, Leather products, Furniture, Ceramics and reproduction of Antiques, hand made Silver & Brass objects are also popular with visitors who have fine taste of shopping the very best for value-for-money.

As the producer of the world's finest tea, there are many tea sales centers at most tourist destinations around the country and at main shopping centers in Colombo. While touring in Hill country area, you can find tea estates and their affiliated sales outlets too.
Also you may simply go bargain hunting at many shopping bazaars in Sri Lanka and the main bazaar area for the locals is Pettah in Colombo where the markets are busy and bustling. Watch out, bargaining skills are essential and also the Shoppers should be aware of cheap imports which have flooded some of these outlets recently. However those items will come to those who are travelling from the Western world at throwaway prices, hence please do remember to check out the reasonable prices of items, to avoid being overcharged.

One can make merry in Sri Lanka indulging several activities as many parts of Sri Lanka wear fully modern look and provide facilities like bars, pubs, casinos, night clubs & discos and cinemas which you can avail benefits of . One can also have one's creative urge pampered in theatres and art galleries. Enjoy with these activities and have gala time in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is the hot spot in South Asia for the most active nightlife in Colombo where a part of the Galle Road is said to resemble Las Vegas in virtue of many casinos and night clubs. Colombo is a city with something for everyone and also a place constantly changing and moving forward keeping with its old luster. One thing is for sure, you will never get bored in Colombo with so much to see and do.